Device for closing jars



J. P. KENYON DEVICE FOR CLOSING JARS Sept. 29, 1936.

Filed Oct. 21, 1935 %m d. L w

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved device for closing jars. Theobject of the invention is to provide a simple and effective devicewhich may be used to quickly and effectively close jars containing fruitor other material being packed. In its preferred embodiment the devicecomprises a member to co-act with the jar and a second member designedto co-act with the ball of the jar closure in such a manner that theoperator may apply the device to the jar and quickly move the lockingdevice so that jars may be rapidly sealed one after another.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a jar having my device applied thereto,the parts being in the position they occupy before the jar closing bailis moved to seal the jar.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same after the tool has forced thebail down into its locked position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail showing how the device co-operates withthe jar closure when the device is being used to lift the jar out of thehot water in which the sealing or closing step has been effected.

Referring now to the details of the drawing by numerals: I and 2represent the side arms of a frame, the upper ends of which areconnected by a handle 3, and the lower ends 4 and 5 connected to a framemember 6 preferably formed of semicircular shape adapted to fit one sideof the neck of a jar such as used for preserving, canning, etc. It willof course be undertood that the member 6 may be formed of differentsizes and shapes in order to fit different types of jars. The framecomprising the side arms I and 2 is designed to support a handle 8 insuch a manner that the lower end 9 of the handle may contact with thebail II) of the locking device. In order to better accomplish thispurpose the lower end 9 of the handle is provided with a notch I2 sothat the wire bail III of said locking device may be more easilyoperated. The handle 8 is preferably pivotally held in co-operativerelationship with the side arms I and 2 by means of a supporting yoke I4preferably formed of wire and pivotally connected to the side arms I and2 as shown at I6 and II.

In the operation of my device, there is a particular coaction betweenthe semi-circular frame 6 when placed in position on one side of the jarand the horizontal handle 3 and its vertical handle 8. These parts areso constructed and correlated that when the operator holds thehorizontal handle 3 in such a position that the semicircular member 6contacts with the jar, and the operator then moves the vertical handle 8downward against the bail III, the semi-circular member 6 being on oneside of the jar and the vertical 5 handle 8 acting upon the bail II] asa fulcrum on the opposite side of the jar, there is a joint action andco-operation of the parts which hold the semi-circular member againstthe jar as though it were locked thereon.

I desire to call particular attention to the fact that in its preferableembodiment the frame member 6 is provided with recesses 26 and 2| whichare so located that the side portions of the semi-circular frame member6 may be lifted up- 15 wardly with respect to the jar and its wirelocking member so that in its further upward movement, the said framemember 6 will contact with a portion of the wire lockingmember so thatit may be used to lift the jar out of the hot water in which 20 it hasbeen placed. The operation of this feature is shown in Figure 3.

From the foregoing and accompanying drawing it will be seen that I haveinvented a device which may be used for rapidly sealing jars, one 25after another, and by which each jar may be quickly removed from the pancontaining the jars without the operator dipping her hands into the hotwater.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the 30 form and constructionof my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and thereforereference should be made to the appended claims to determine the scopethereof.

I claim: 35

1. In a device for sealing jars of the type having a locking deviceincluding a bail, a member shaped to contact and coact with one side ofa jar, a handle connected with the member, and a second handle pivotallysupported by the first 40 named handle but located on the opposite sideof the jar and adapted to engage the bail whereby the downward movementof the second handle on one side of the jar in swinging the locking baildownwardly will cause the first mentioned mem- 45 ber to move toward andengage the opposite side of the jar.

2. In a device for sealing jars of the type having a locking deviceincluding a bail, a member shaped to contact and co-act with one side ofa 50 jar, a handle connected with the member, and a second handle shapedto co-act with and to swing the bail into locking position by a downwardmovement thereof, said second handle being pivotally supported by thefirst handle but located on 55 the opposite side of the jar whereby themovement of the second handle on one side of the jar in operating thelocking device will cause the first mentioned member to engage theopposite side of the jar.

3. In a. device for sealing jars of the type having a locking deviceincluding a. bail, a member shaped to contact with one side of a jar andconstructed to fit under and engage the locking device of the jar, and ahandle connected with said member whereby the device may be used to liftthe jar.

JULIA PALMER KENYON.

